309 Past tenses sometimes remain unchanged

A In theory the past tense changes to the past perfect, but in spoken English it is often left unchanged, provided this can be done without causing confusion about the relative times of the actions. For example, He said, 7 loved her' must become He said he had loved her as otherwise there would be a change of meaning. But He said, 'Ann arrived on Monday' could be reported He said Ann arrived/had arrived on Monday.

В The past continuous tense in theory changes to the past perfect continuous but in practice usually remains unchanged except when it refers to a completed action:

She said, 'We were thinking of selling the house but we have decided

not to' =

She said that they had been thinking of selling the house but had

decided not to. But He said, 'When I saw them they were playing tennis' =

He said that when he saw them they were playing tennis.

С In written English past tenses usually do change to past perfect but there are the following exceptions:

1 Past/Past continuous tenses in time clauses do not normally change:

He said, 'When we were living/lived in Paris . . .' = He said that when they were living in Paris . . .

The main verb of such sentences can either remain unchanged or

become the past perfect:

He said, 'When we were living/lived in Paris we often saw Paul' = He said that when they were living/lived in Paris they often saw/had often seen Paul.

2 A past tense used to describe a state of affairs which still exists when the speech is reported remains unchanged:

She said, 7 decided not to buy the house because it was on a main road' =

She said that she had decided not to buy the house because it was on a main road.

310 Unreal past tenses (subjunctives) in indirect speech

A Unreal past tenses after wish, would rather/sooner and it is time

do not change:

'We wish we didn't have to take exams,' said the children = The children said they wished they didn't have to take exams. 'Bill wants to go alone,' said Ann, 'but I'd rather he went with a group' =

: Ann said that Bill wanted to go alone but that she 'd rather he went

with a group.

'It's time we began planning our holidays,' he said = He said that it was time they began planning their holidays.

В I/he/she/we/they had better remains unchanged, you had better

can remain unchanged or be reported by advise + object + infinitive (see 120):

'The children had better go to bed early,' said Tom =

Tom said that the children had better go to bed early.

'You 'd better not drink the water,' she said =

She advised/warned us not to drink the water.

С Conditional sentences types 2 and 3 remain unchanged (see 229): 'If my children were older I would emigrate,' he said = He said that if his children were older he would emigrate.

311 Might, ought to, should, would, used to in indirect statements

A might remains unchanged except when used as a request form:

He said, 'Ann might ring today' =

He said that Ann might ring (that day). But 'You might post these for me,' he said =

He asked me to post them for him. (See 285 for requests.)

В ought to/should for obligation or assumption remains unchanged: 'They ought to/should widen this road,' I said = I said that they ought to/should widen the road. I said, 'I should be back by six' (I assume I will be) = / said I should be back by six.

С But you ought to/you should, if used to express advice rather than obligation, can be reported by advise + object + infinitive, you must can also express advice and be reported similarly.

'You ought to/should/must read the instructions,' said Ann = Ann advised/urged/warned me to read the instructions.

D The advice form 'If I were you I should/would . . .' is normally reported by advise + object + infinitive:

'If I were you I'd wait,' I said = / advised him to wait.

E The request form 'I should/would be (very) grateful if you

would . . .' is normally reported by ask + object + infinitive: 'I'd be very grateful if you 'd keep me informed,' he said = He asked me to keep him informed.

F would in statements doesn't change. But see 284 for would in requests etc.

G used to doesn't change:

7 know the place well because I used to live here,' he explained = He explained that he knew the place well because he used to live there. (For could, see 312; for must, see 325.)